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fLoolKE. DRILL GARRIAGE..

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. B. H. LOCKE.v DRILL GARBI'AGB.

-N0.`261,935. Eatentedxzmg. f1, 1882.

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UNITED STATES Pari-intr OFFICE.

BRADFORD H. LOCKE, OF CENTRAL CITY, COLORADO.

DRILL-CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part `of Letters Patent No. 261,935, dated August 1, 1882.

Application tiled December 8, 1881.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, BRADFORD H. LocKE,

'a citizen of the United States,residiug at Genhereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

. and exact description ofthe invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it apperta-ins to make and use the same, ret'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a drill-carriage, so called, for mining and other similar purposes; and it consists in its general features of a carriage composed of an iron or other suitable frame mounted on wheels, the latter resting and moving on a temporary structure erected, in general, midway of the height of the tunnel or excavation in process of construetion. To the rear portion of the frame are pivoted four arms--an upper and lower pairwhich, at their farther extremities, or practically so, are supported by chain blocks or pulleys, these arms projecting` some ways beyond the main structure or frame and swinging in vertical paths ot' movement. To the extreme outer end of each pair of arms, or cranes,7 as they may be termed, are securely fastened two large hollow iron cylinders or rods, as the case may be, on and by means of which the drills and drill mechanism are supported, and which act as a brace or backin g for the drills when the latter are in operation. Minor features of the construction will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The drawings accompanying this speciiication represent, in Figure l, a side elevation of one-half of the carriage, looking toward the side of the tunnel. Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 a vertical cross-section, of a drill-carriage embodying my improvements.

Hitherto in mining operations success and rapidity in accomplishing the maximum amount of work has been limited by the time allowed for drilling, `an'd with the apparatus now generally in use most of the delay is occasioned in clearing away7 after a blast and before being ablekto reset the drills in posi- (No model.)

tion for operating. As a consequence, much valuable time is lostwhich could otherwise be spent in sinking holes and advancing the work, provided the drills could be put to work at once after a blast and continue in operation while the process of clearing away is taking place below.

'lo obviate these difficultiesl have shown in the accompanying drawings at A a strong rectangular iron or other suitable frame, with side braces, a a a ci, and end ties, b b, these bars giving rigidity and strength to the structure. To the four corners of the structure A, I securely affix four posts or columns, c c c c, to the lower ends of which, supported in proper bearings, d d, &c.,are aliixed four wheels, each separately mounted, inasmuch as it is very essential to have the carriage lit the tunnel tolcrably closely and at the same time procure free space for the operation of the workmen within the frame of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and which could not be accomplished provided the wheels were connected by axles. These four wheels c c e c are mounted with one bearing in the lower extremities of the posts c c c c and the other in small brackets f f f f, securely bolted to the outside of said posts. The wheels,as mounted, are adapted to run on a temporary' track composed of heavy timbers, joists., or other suitable material, g g, placed along the side ot' the tunnel and resting ou and securely fastened with iron straps and keys to heavy iron rods or bolts lc 7c, &c., thrust into holes drilled in the side of the shaft. These holes are in practice drilled in the side of the tunnel halt'- way up, or thereabout, which position allows ot' free space beneath the frame for clearing away. This temporary track extends sufficiently far back from the head of the tunnel to insure the safety of said carriage when run back for every blast.

The rear axles,h h, are somewhat longer than the front ones, and extend through the rear posts c c a short distance and form a short shaft or arm, to which are pivoted the ends of ing loops or straps of iron bolted to their eX- tremities, said straps clasping closely the drill-column, which extends across the heading. These drillcolumns, so called--an upper one, B, and lower one, G-may be a hollow cylinder or a solid bar, as experience may dictate, and to these columns are attached the drills and their operative mechanism. At either end of the drill-columns are inserted powerful screws, and when the drills are at their proper position these said screws are extended, wedging the drill-columns securely in place between the walls of the tunnel while the required holes are being sunk inthe heading.

As I propose using unusually-heavy drills (several in number on each drill-column) and drill-columns, and also to obviate the great labor and difficulty of adjusting the drilleol umns, as now generally practiced, and to effeet the shifting of the di ills at different elevations with ease and celerity, I have attached to the ends ofthe said cranes t' t' and jj, or at a place about two-thirds of their length from the pivoted ends, chain blocks or tackles im, and these blocks are properly adjusted to and connect above with suitable corresponding blocks and sheaves L m', as shown in Fig. Lof the drawings, attached to the Lipper portions ofthe forward posts c c.

The operation of my drill-carriage is as follows, supposing the tunnel to have been just started: Aseries of holes, s, Fig. l, are first drilled in both sides of the shaft at suitable distances, and large iron pins or bolts inserted loosely, that they may be readily removed and advanced as progress on the work is effected. Upon these pins are securely fastened with iron straps and wedges a track composed of heavy timbers or other suitable material. I propose drilling these holes about midway of the entire height of the tunnel, in order that after a disch arge or blast the drill-carriage can vbe run forward above the debris to allow new holes to`be commenced at once and at the same time that clearing up is proceeding. Supposinga blast to have been discharged, the drillcarriage is at once run forward; and, as the debris now occupies a considerable portion of the lower part of the tun nel, the lower drill-column, and with it the drills, is raised above the broken rocks, and after being secured in lposition with screws drilling commences. The central portion of the tunnel being clear and free from the frame of the carriage allows of the ready removal of debris. The upper drill-column is likewise pnt in operation, and both cranes, by means ofthe several chain-pulleys, are gradup ally and readily lowered as the several rows of holes are drilled. When the lower drill-colnmn approaches the bottom of the shaft the dbris has been sufficiently removed, and no delay consequent upon the removal of the dbris and adjustment ofthe drill-column, as now generally practiced, ensues.

By this method I can easily and readily handle very heavy drill-columns, and consequently propose to use much heavier drills and a greater number on each column than heretofore, whereas in the methods now practiced weight is an objection, though a real advantage, in consequence of the difficulty and time required in making the necessary changes of the drills in vertical adjustment.

`l have shown in the present instance the carriage as supported about midway ofthe entire height ot' the tunnel; but I do not confine mysel t' in any sense to this precise construction, as it may be modified according to circumstances, the track being constructed either above or below the center height ot'jsaid tunnel, and can be so modified in position as t0 be placed at the top and have the carriage suspended therefrom, yet without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What Iclaim, and desire to secure byv Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

l. In a drill-carriage for miningorothersimilar opera tions, composed ofa supporting-frame movably adjusted and adapted to furnish free space within the interior of the excavation, the combination of the pivoted cranes and their operative mechanism acting as a support to the drill-column with its drills and their operative mechanism, substantially as described.

2. A drill-carriage for mining or other similar operations, movably adjusted on a temporary track, the latter resting on and being secured to pins or bolts or their equivalents sunk in the side of the tunnel and sufficiently above the bottom of the tunnel to allow of removal of the debris during drilling operations, as hereinbefore stated.

3. Ina drill-carriage for mining or other similar operations, the combination ofthe support ing-frame A, movably adjusted, and its roller or wheel trucksf, bolted to the frame, operating-Wheels e e, e., the pivoted cranes i and j, and their operating pulleys or blocks lm and l m, to effect the raising and lowering of the drill-column, as and for purposes stated.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRADFORD H. LOCKE.

Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE, iF. CUR/ris.

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